Portfolio



Feb. 10, 1942. c. FELDMANN POR'I'FOLIIIO Filed Sept. 20, 1940 Patented Feb. 10, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PORTFOLIO Carlyle Feldmann, Chicago, Ill.

Application September 20, 1940, Serial No. 357,652

1 Claim.

My invention relates to portfolios, and more particularly to means for reinforcing the backs thereof, and my main object is to provide a reinforcing element which lends protection to the outside of the portfolio fold, preventing the same from undue wear, collapse, or deformation from the rough handling of the portfolio.

A further object of the invention is to provide a backing strip for the outside of the portfolio fold, such backing strip being of metal and sumciently firm to render the fold rigid.

Another object of the invention is to design the novel backing strip of light sheet metal and with a peculiar reinforcing factor to render it strong and immune to bending influences.

An additional object of the invention is to construct the improved backing strip with means for attaching it to the base of the binder, so as to receive the portfolio fold between it and such base and greatly reinforce the portfolio.

An important object of the invention is to construct the improvement along lines of neatness and simplicity.

With the above objects in view and any others which may suggest themselves from the description to follow, a better understanding of the invention may be had by reference to the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the improved portfolio;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged rear view thereof;

Figs. 3 and 4 are, respectively, sections on the lines 33 and ll4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section through the back of the portfolio at the bottom, showing a modification; and

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 3, showing another modification.

Portfolios of the type herein considered are of the folder type, containing a loose-leaf binder within the fold and a zipper closure along the edges. While the conventional portfolio may be bound along the edges to withstand wear and rough handling, it is significant that the back or outside of the fold is fully exposed to wear and injury. In fact, more Wear and injury occur along the back of the portfolio, as that region is the heaviest part of the portfolio and more apt to be deposited on or struck against a support or surface when the portfolio is rested or laid down. Also, the particular region receives more wear from handling, as it rests in the palm when the portfolio is carried, being subject to moisture or perspiration from the palm. Recognizing these deficiencies, it has been my intention to provide a backing device for the portfolio fold which solves the problem in a neat and efficient manner.

In accordance with the foregoing, specific reference to the drawing indicates a typical portfolio or folding brief case at ill, the back fold thereof being indicated at ll. Usually the fold' is reinforced on the inside by a fibre or metal strip I2 which forms the base for a conventional ring binder l3.

The present invention is characterized by a long strip I4 of steel or other suitable sheet metal which is light, strong and firm. The strip is bowed transversely to fit the curvature of the back fold II; and the corners of the strip are rounded as indicated at l5 to make them smooth.

While the backing strip M may have a slight degree of lateral flexibility, it is imperative that the strip be rigid longitudinally. I have therefore caused the strip to be formed or pressed with a number of longitudinal corrugations [6, these being rounded at the ends as indicated at I! to make a neat appearance. Preferably, the number of corrugations for the conventional portfolio is three abreast, making a neat and simple design.

The backing strip l4 may be secured to the portfolio in any suitable manner, but my preference is to employ two or more rivets I 111 for this purpose. The rivets shown are near the ends of the strip and pass through the base strip l2 and binder l3 as clearly shown in Fig. 4, whereby to rigidly attach the strip M to the back of the portfolio along a medial course. In order that the rivets may fit the strip closely from the outside and present no obstructions, the central corrugation I6 is interrupted in the zones of the rivets, so that a substantially fiat surface is afforded opposite the outer heads thereof, as shown in Fig. 2.

While the backing strip M, formed and secured as described covers the back fold sufiiciently to all intents and purposes, it may be advisable to further secure the strip by clamping the same to the top and bottom of the portfolio fold. For this purpose I employ the modification of Fig. 5, in which the stripis made longer at both ends to provide extensions I8 which are bent over the ends of the fold and compressed to clamp tended laterally with curved wings or flanges [9 which closely fit or hug the corners of the fold.

It will be evident from the above description that I have provided a backing strip for portfolios of the type considered which is not only a strong metallic reinforcement, but also a neat and inconspicuous adjunct therefor. The reinforcing strip is located in a zone where the greatest amount of wear or injury is apt to occur, and is so constituted as to protect the back of the portfolio as well as to withstand all shocks and injuries indefinitely. The novel backing strip is very light and occupies a slight amount of room; and it is rigidly fastened in a manner to cooperate with the binder base within the fold toward maintaining the latter in its proper form. The portfolio thus retains its original shape and does not collapse, lose shape, peel or scufi in the region of its fold. In fact, the backing strip may itself be finished to match the color or tone of the portfolio or otherwise coated to present an attractive appearance. Finally, it will be apparent that the novel backing strip is so simple in its construction and application that it may be included as a novel feature without adding appreciably to the cost of the portfolio.

While I have described the main and modified forms of the novel invention, various minor changes and refinements may be made without departing from its principle, and I desire to consider all such changes and refinements as coming within the scope and spirit of the appended claim.

I claim:

A reinforcing element for folded portfolios containing a binder base along the inside of the fold, comprising a strip of hard material applied to the outside of the fold, rivets along the medial portion of the strip and connecting with said base by passage through the fold, and a series of laterally-spaced longitudinal projections outwardly of the strip to reinforce the same longitudinally, one of said projections being along a medial line and interrupted in the zones in which the rivets are located.

CARLYLE FELDMANN. 

